Donor Letter Year Three

Dear Friend,

As Safe4Athletes approaches year 3, we would like to say many thanks to all of our donors for their continued support. Your help makes the good work of Safe4Athletes possible. It is because of your support that we are successfully “giving every athlete a voice” at every level of sports, from open amateur club sports programs to NCAA Division I athletics and beyond.

We have taken many steps forward this year in advocating for a safe and positive environment for every athlete, free of abuse, bullying and harassment:

We have created, and made available, a mobile application that can report abuse direct to some of our clubs as well to Safe4Athletes. We have provided online educational material available to all athletes at their fingertips. Available for iPhone, Android and Windows devices

We started to create online educational videos explaining the Safe4Athletes program with hopes to continue to expand this library to include education on all forms of abuse and bullying.

We continue to maintain a high quality website, Safe4Athletes.org, and have continued to add resources, providing valuable educational materials for thousands of users

We have consistently kept our community informed on important issues through our newsletters.

We have continued to speak to clubs and universities all over the country, directly educating athletes, coaching staff and parents on the Safe4Athletes program.

We continue to facilitate direct aid to several athletes requiring long-term care to assist them in dealing with the on-going issues of abuse.

We have implemented Safe4Athletes within private high schools around the country that aren’t protected by Title IX sexual harassment prohibitions, which only apply to institutions that are recipients of federal funds, by developing a handbook that is that is based on the Title IX compliance model.

We have responded to the calls from many victims and parents of victims who are requesting our help with current issues ranging from taking action in the case of severe abuse to advocating for state legislation to make current laws more effective.

We have developed surveys to further understand the issues on the topic of abuse.

We have shared our survey results at various conferences across the country and at the IWG conference in Helsinki early this year.

We have continued to develop a referral list of highly specialized therapists who are experts in working with coach/athlete trauma.

There isn’t enough time, with present resources, to respond to all the requests and advocate on the numerous fronts that need to be addressed. One thing is crystal clear, there is a real, repressed and denied need for athlete welfare initiatives. Sexual abuse, bullying, and harassment has gone unchecked for too long.

Our goals for the coming year include the development of more online educational material, taking on more individual athlete cases and speaking at more conference around the athletic community. And of course, we will continue to be available to athletes in need of resources and assistance.

We hope that you will help us continue our important work. Whether it’s a gift to support our non-profit programs, a willingness to share our materials and newsletters with your friends, hosting a fundraiser and educational program in your sports community or home, serving on our board or on a committee, or volunteering to work on a project, we would be grateful for your involvement.,

Please do not hesitate to call me if you would like to explore other ways to make a difference. Again, thanks so much for your support!

With thanks,

Katherine Starr

Founder & President

Change Happens One Person at a Time.

You don’t have to be an outspoken activist or be in a position of power.It is important to act in ways that are comfortable for your personality, to follow your passion for social justice, and to do things that fit your personal limitations of time or resources.

Here are some ideas that might fit YOU!

1. RECOMMEND A LOCAL SPORT CLUB TO ADOPT A SAFE4ATHLETES POLICYPrint out the Safe4Athletes brochure and Why Sport Clubs Need an Athlete Welfare Policy. Schedule a meeting with the President of the local club to discuss whether this person would like to learn more about this issue. Direct them to the Safe4Athletes.org web site to get more information. Check back several weeks later to see if the club plans to take action to adopt such a policy. (SEE OTHERS CLUBS THAT RECOMMEND SAFE4ATHLETES)

2. TALK TO ATHLETES AT A SPORT CLUBVolunteer to talk to athletes at a sports club to make sure they understand how important it is to report misconduct by coaches or other athletes. First find out from the club who they should contact to report such concerns. Use the What Every Athlete Should Know Safe4Athletes publication as a summary of the points you should cover.

3. EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGE OR DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH YOUR ATHLETE OR PARENT FRIENDSThe first step in confronting any issue to talking about it. Use social media to ask your friends whether they think this is an issue and whether they would like to join you in approaching your sports club to do something about it. Encourage them to check out the Safe4Athletes.org web site to learn more about the issue.

4. WRITE TO YOUR NATIONAL SPORT GOVERNING BODY (NGB)Check the Safe4Athletes web site to see if the national sport governing body (USA Archery, USA Softball, etc.) in your sport has an Athlete Protection Officer or staff member responsible for handling parent or athlete concerns about coach misconduct. If not, write to your NGB to ask that they establish such a staff position, adopt a strong policy on coaches professional conduct and publish the names of coaches banned for misconduct.

5. SHARE YOUR STORYIf you are comfortable sharing your story of being the victim of abuse, write your story and try to suggest to athletes or parents who might read it how they might act if faced with a similar situation. Or explain how you were successful in getting your sports club to address this issue. Don’t use your name. Carefully follow instructions on the Safe4Athletes.org Tell Your Story area of the web site.

6. VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME TO WORK FOR SAFE4ATHLETESSometimes Safe4Athletes has projects (i.e., surveys, research projects, writing articles, etc.) that volunteers can help accomplish. Email info@Safe4Athletes to volunteer.

7. VOLUNTEER TO BE AN ‘ATHLETE WELFARE ADVOCATE’ AT YOUR SPORT CLUBAn “Athlete Welfare Advocate” is a volunteer responsible for listening to any athlete complaint or expression of concern and determining how to best address this concern in the best interest of the athlete. The role of the AWA is to act on behalf of the athlete to ensure the athlete’s safety, recognizing the imbalance of power between participants and adults (coaches and others) who are in positions of authority or that there may be other participants whose actions may be intimidating or threatening to younger or weaker children.

8. IF YOU HAVE NO TIME TO BE AN ACTIVIST, DONATE TO THE CAUSESafe4Athletes, is a registered public charity, exempt from Federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your donation can help make a difference by funding:• efforts to provide speakers for national sport organization convention programs addressing this issue• initiatives to communicate directly with local sports clubs and state associations to get them to adopt athlete protection policies• staff to answer the Safe4Athletes “Help Line”• the operation of our web site so we can guarantee free access to all of our model policies and other educational materials

Safe4Athletes

March 10th, 2014 - New York City - Fundraiser Dinner

Nocello - 7-10pm

Safe4Athlete is having a Fundraiser/Dinner in New York City at Nocello, Fine Italian Cuisine.

Join us for a night of some good food and good company, while learning about the mission of Safe4Athletes and how you can help give a voice to Athletes everywhere.

Safe4Athletes mission is to provide a safe and positive environment for every athlete, free of abuse, bullying and harassment. We need your support in giving every athlete a voice. Often Athletes will sit in silence rather than sacrifice their career. Safe4Athletes has a program that addresses the coach/athlete power dynamic. We need help spreading our free program and resources to those that needed it.

Our program is growing and we need help supporting the demand to make sports safe4athletes across the country. We have seen success with the Safe4Athletes program with programs that have taken a leadership role addressing abuse in sports. We need aid and support from others to breakdown the coach/athlete power dynamic through implementing the Safe4Athletes in sports programs everywhere. We have seen success at every level of sports, whether it be collegiate, open amateur sports clubs and high school sports.

While the resources for every sports program are free from the Safe4Athletes website, we offer assistance with issues and help victims with obtaining resources, such as therapists and legal assistance. All funds go towards making sports Safe4Athletes.

Come join us for a night of Food, Fun and Friends (New and Old)

Where: Nocello

Address: 257 W. 55th st, New York, NY 10019

When: March 10th, 2014

Time: 7-10pm

Dress Code: Business Casual

Menu: A three course meal followed by a selection of Itilian desserts and coffee.

Special WISE member rate $100 includes tax and tip (alcohol not included)

If you can't make this fundraiser but would like to give a donation please click here. or check to see if there is a fundraiser coming to a town near you.

We look forward to hearing from you at info@safe4athletes.org or call us 855-723-3422 for more information.

Safe4Athletes

March 10th, 2014 - New York City - Fundraiser Dinner

Nocello - 7-10pm

Safe4Athlete is having a Fundraiser/Dinner in New York City at Nocello, Fine Italian Cuisine.

Join us for a night of some good food and good company, while learning about the mission of Safe4Athletes and how you can help give a voice to Athletes everywhere.

Safe4Athletes mission is to provide a safe and positive environment for every athlete, free of abuse, bullying and harassment. We need your support in giving every athlete a voice. Often Athletes will sit in silence rather than sacrifice their career. Safe4Athletes has a program that addresses the coach/athlete power dynamic. We need help spreading our free program and resources to those that needed it.

Our program is growing and we need help supporting the demand to make sports safe4athletes across the country. We have seen success with the Safe4Athletes program with programs that have taken a leadership role addressing abuse in sports. We need aid and support from others to breakdown the coach/athlete power dynamic through implementing the Safe4Athletes in sports programs everywhere. We have seen success at every level of sports, whether it be collegiate, open amateur sports clubs and high school sports.

While the resources for every sports program are free from the Safe4Athletes website, we offer assistance with issues and help victims with obtaining resources, such as therapists and legal assistance. All funds go towards making sports Safe4Athletes.

Come join us for a night of Food, Fun and Friends (New and Old)

Where: Nocello

Address: 257 W. 55th st, New York, NY 10019

When: March 10th, 2014

Time: 7-10pm

Dress Code: Business Casual

Menu: A three course meal followed by a selection of Italian desserts and coffee.

Donation $125 includes tax and tip (alcohol not included)

or JOIN US on the VIP table $250 per person and get a chance to speak with the Founder. All Corporate Donations will be recognized and displayed at the Event. Contact us about Corporate Sponsorship at 1-855.723.3422 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

New York City Fundraiser

If you can't make this fundraiser but would like to give a donation please click here. or check to see if there is a fundraiser coming to a town near you.